cctv4u Blog

The widespread use of CCTV cameras in Britain has led to some controversy from those who do not support the fact we are the most monitored country in the world. However, the use of security equipment has been beneficial in reducing crime of all kinds, from the high street right through to the workplace and the home.

We are all familiar with the CCTV systems on the high streets of Britain, and for most of us they just blend in to the background, seeing but unseen. Supporters of these CCTV installations point out that the majority of the population do not have to worry about them, as they are there as a deterrent to those who have criminal intentions on our streets, such as shop lifters, muggers and those who cause havoc with their anti-social behaviour.

The footage from CCTV cameras has also been used in many court cases, by both the prosecution and the defence, so there is yet another reason for them being present on our streets. CCTV Footage has either sent an individual to prison or helped to clear them when they have been wrongly accused of a crime.

In addition to these benefits, surveys have shown that CCTV helps to make people feel more secure as they go about their daily business in towns and cities all over the UK.

If you’re in the market for a new CCTV camera, you could well be blown away by all the choice on offer. It probably seems difficult to know where to start, so to help you understand the various systems available here’s a quick run through of some of the most popular options.

• Box cameras. These CCTV security cameras are incredibly popular and can be used for all types of business and industry, and you’ve probably seen them in various places across the country. As the name suggests they’re in the traditional box shape, and a lot of models are incredibly affordable so will be ideal for those on a budget.

• CCTV domes. In this area you can get options that are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and again they can be incredibly affordable so are the perfect way to keep an eye on events from all angles.

• Bullet cameras. These cameras offer high resolution images and many can be suitable for both day and night use, and because they’re often smaller than most box cameras they can be ideal for those that don’t want their security system to be too obvious.

These are just a few of the most popular CCTV cameras available, but you’ll probably need some more advice before you decide on the right ones for you. If that’s the case, make sure to head to us here at CCTV4U and we’ll be pleased to help with any queries you may have, and will be able to point you in the right direction of the perfect cameras for you.

If you own a business, you’re sure to understand how important it is to have the right security in place. It’s essential you have everything covered and having security cameras really can help to improve your business, but here are a few more facts if you need help convincing.

The most obvious advantage to having cameras and other CCTV equipment is for the security of you and your employees. There will always be opportunist vandals or criminals out there looking for ways to make a quick profit, but if you’ve got cameras in all areas they’ll soon be deterred from trying anything. This can benefit your business in two ways – not only are the personnel safe, but your profits will increase thanks to the lack of theft or damage to stock.

CCTV can also be used as a great way to monitor your business and ensuring everything’s running smoothly. You can’t be everywhere at once but by having an appropriate security system in place your eyes can be everywhere even when you’re not, giving you peace of mind knowing your business is running smoothly.

As you can see, security cameras really can help your business to thrive. They can be used for the protection of staff, the prevention of theft, an increase in profits and even for effective monitoring, so consider investing in an effective system to give your business that boost it needs.

Check out the CCTV website for further information and equipment.

Quality should always be your top priority no matter what products you buy, but it’s even more important when you consider CCTV equipment. The whole point of having security equipment in the first place is to feel more secure, but if you don’t purchase quality cameras how can you be sure they’ll be doing their job?

Ultimately, that’s what makes the quality of CCTV so important. You want to feel safe and secure, and the only way of achieving that is to ensure you’ve got the proper security equipment in place that won’t suddenly break down when you least expect it.

Low quality equipment is liable to be faulty, buggy and generally not worth the money, and it certainly won’t give you the peace of mind you’re looking for. Once your security cameras are in place you don’t want to have to worry about fixing them every 5 minutes, and if you go for cheaper items then that’s probably what you’ll have to do.

Your equipment needs to be relatively maintenance free. You want to be able to simply install it and leave it, safe in the knowledge you’ve got nothing to worry about. But, you can only do that if you go for high quality and reliable pieces, so don’t skimp out in an attempt to save some cash.

As you can see, quality really does matter with CCTV equipment. But that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to get the products you’re looking for, and if you come to us here at CCTV 4U we’ll be able to provide you with the top-quality equipment at the right prices to meet your needs perfectly.

There’s been a lot of news press in recent years about the level of CCTV in place across the country, and whether or not it’s really necessary. Many would argue it infringes on our privacy, but is this really the case?

Well, it’s certainly true that there are far more CCTV security cameras in the UK than just about anywhere else in the world. We’re a nation that’s constantly under surveillance, with 2.5 million cameras catching the average person roughly 300 times per day. But does it mean that it’s infringing on our rights?

Not always. The cameras are there for security and to act as a deterrent to criminals, and they can also be used to help convictions come to fruition. If you’re an average person going about your daily business then there’s no reason to worry, as the cameras won’t even notice you’re there. And besides, most people wouldn’t feel half as safe if there weren’t the cameras around, so although some may feel our privacy is at stake the benefits far outweigh it.

There have even been talks in recent weeks about downgrading our reliance on security cameras, so anyone that is concerned is sure to be relieved. But really there’s no reason to worry, because as long as the cameras are in the hands of the professionals they’re not going to abuse their power.

So, while some people may feel that CCTV cameras infringe on privacy, for many there’s really not much to be concerned about. They can provide valuable security and peace of mind, and if you think you need a camera or two make sure to come to us here at CCTV 4U.

Whilst all CCTV cameras have basically the same functionality, i.e. the transmitting of footage to a monitor or recorder, you may be surprised by the rich variety of types of security camera – from ultra modern “dome” cameras, to recognisable “box” cameras. So what kinds of security camera are there, and what are their distinct advantages for the user?

Domed Cameras

Domed cameras are fast becoming the industry standard and this is for a variety of reasons. For example, as the actual security camera system is housed inside a protective dome, it is impossible for the camera’s position to be changed externally, which has obvious implications in terms of security.

Box Cameras

Whilst box cameras might be more vulnerable to external damage and are more immediately recognisable as a security device (which may be a good thing if you’re using them for a deterrent), they are often the most affordable of the CCTV camera types and can come with a range of features, such as night vision.

Covert Cameras

Of course security cameras extend beyond static CCTV systems and there are a wide range of covert solutions. IP cameras, for example, can be as simple as a webcam, with the advantage of being able to upload footage of an intruder straight to the web.

But where can you buy CCTV in all its form to suit your requirements? Well, at CCTV4U we have a wide range of cameras and camera systems to suit any application, and any budget!

CCTV represents the ultimate in a home security solution, acting not only as a deterrent for any potential burglar or vandal, but also as an important source of evidence should the worst happen. CCTV remains a controversial security measure, however, and its improper usage could do more than just annoy the neighbours, and could potentially put you on the wrong side of the law. So, what exactly are the legal requirements for CCTV systems?

In line with the Data Protection Act of 1998 if you’re using CCTV on behalf of an organisation, you will need to register with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. If on the other hand you are using CCTV for home security then you will most likely be exempt from the registration process, specifically the Data Protection Act states “personal data processed by an individual only for the purposes of that individual’s personal, family or household affairs (including recreational purposes) are exempt from the data protection principles and the provisions of Parts II and III.”

This apparent leniency in the law for home CCTV users is should be taken with a pinch of salt however, and you should still be conscientious when positioning your CCTV systems. Basically, you should keep the field of view to within your property, as indirectly or directly filming your neighbours by be seen as an infringement of their human rights, ironically maybe even landing you in court.

CCTV cameras remain a controversial use of government money, with many seeing them as an invasion of privacy. The statistic “the average UK citizen is likely to be caught by CCTV cameras 300 times a day” is often used as a negative point, and implies that the ubiquitous use of cameras represents a direct threat to our civil liberties. There is, however, on obvious contradiction at work here, What innocent person has ever been harmed by public CCTV products, and do we even notice CCTV cameras anymore? Isn’t it just the criminal that should be afraid of being caught on camera?

The fact remains that public CCTV equipment represents an ultra-modern crime prevention solution and to say that they affect our civil liberties represents a misconception of their usage. It is fair to say that their use is inevitable, and good technologies will always end up at the centre of our civilizations despite their negatives. The motor-car is a good example of this: a highly effective technology that also has its downsides. It is, however, a technology that we can’t help but embrace.

To say that closed circuit cameras are a good idea simply because they are a good technology is perhaps a little disingenuous, but we need only look at some crime statistics to appreciate their effectiveness. For example, the use of CCTV as evidence has led to a clear increase in guilty verdicts, and therefore you might say that our civil liberties in the end might well be saved by a camera.

For many years, CCTV equipment used VHS systems to record security camera video feed. Now, with the advancement of technology, Digital Video Recorders (DVR) systems are more widely used. Although initially more expensive to purchase than VHS, there are many advantages of having a DVR system. Installation is quick and easy; all you need to get started is one DVR unit, one to four CCTV security cameras (depending on your needs), and you are ready to go!

When using VHS, the video cassettes need to be changed every day – sometimes even twice a day, even when using a time lapse VCR which allows for longer recording. In addition to the inconvenience of constantly changing the cassettes, plenty of storage space will also be needed to retain them. The standard of the VHS video playback is initially fine, but when stored over time, the overall quality will decrease.

The most obvious advantage of DVR is that there are no longer any cassettes which need to be constantly changed. The average DVR system will retain video for up to 180 days, depending on how the security cameras are set-up to record; that is six months of retained video! This accessibility is very convenient when travelling, as the CCTV video will be recording whether you are there or not. Reviewing video footage is quick and easy as it is just a click away. For further convenience, DVR can be linked to an Internet connection and accessed remotely from anywhere in the world.

Wireless CCTV is a relatively recent innovation which has many benefits, including easy-to-fit cameras and remote viewing of camera feed over the internet. However, this kind of CCTV system is not just limited to security cameras, as the technology of wireless CCTV systems can be applied also to some of the functions of the traditional burglar alarm system. This is an exciting application and is worth considering when choosing CCTV equipment to protect your home or business.

Traditional alarm systems have always used sensors such as simple magnetic door contacts that create a change in circuit voltage when the sensor is “tripped”, i.e. when the door is opened and the contacts are separated. These sensors are wired to an alarm system control panel and the change in voltage causes the alarm to sound. The same sensors that are used in these alarm systems can be connected to the digital input ports of wireless CCTV cameras. The real innovation though, is that the camera is connected to a web application which can take more intelligent action than simply sounding an alarm.

For example, if a door or window sensor in your house was tripped in your absence, the security camera could send an instant SMS text message to your mobile phone. You could then log in to see the recording of that door or window being opened, and more importantly, who opened it, all just seconds after the incident happened; enabling you to decide whether the alarm needed to be raised or not.